Tennis: Sela, Pe’er ready to launch French Open campaigns

Pe’er is playing some of the best tennis of her life at the moment, and will be brimming with confidence.

By ALLON SINAI, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT
Sahar Pe'er midair 311 (photo credit: Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP)
Sahar Pe'er midair 311
(photo credit: Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP)
PARIS – Shahar Pe’er and Dudi Sela will have a completely different set of expectations when they get their French Open campaigns underway on Tuesday.
Sela, ranked number 61 in the world, will be more than delighted to simply reach the second round by beating Jurgen Melzer (27).
Pe’er, however, has her sights set on much loftier goals at the Roland Garros.
The Israeli number one, who climbed one place to No. 18 in the world on Monday, faces qualifier Nuria Llagostera Vives (205) in the first round on Tuesday, expecting to claim a victory on her way to a second round meeting against the winner of the all-American encounter between Vania King and Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
Vives has experienced a lot of success in doubles play in recent years and is currently ranked No. 6 in the world. However, the 30-year-old Spaniard has hardly played singles this year, reaching the main draw in just one tournament.
Pe’er, on the other hand, is playing some of the best tennis of her life at the moment, and will be brimming with confidence after reaching the semifinals of the prestigious Madrid tournament last week.
Sela enters his encounter against Melzer as a clear underdog. The Israeli avoided the European clay courts this year and has won just one of five matches on the surface he so detests in 2010.
Melzer will be far more optimistic of achieving success in Paris after progressing to the quarterfinals in Madrid two weeks ago.